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Political Relations and Sufi in Development Political Sys Rev Pharm 2020;11(12):1083-1088 A multPifaceotedlrievtieiwcjoaurnlal inRthe fielldaoftphiaormancy s And Sufi In Development Political Communication (Case Study In Pelalawan, Indonesia) CSuohrraeysipbo,nJodihnagriA, Wuthaohri:dsinya, hSpyawhpi@awyai hoo.com ABSTRACT This paper discusses the relationship between politicians and Sufis in building Keywords: Relations, Political Communication, Politicians, Sufi political communication. Sufi with its classical tradition has built a system of absolute hierarchy; therefore, obedience to the person is part of the religious Correspondence: principle of the Sufis. In the next span of time, Sufism developed into a Tariqat Syahpawi group. In this phase, a spiritual figure is born as the sole holder of the line of Expert in The Field of Sharia Economics, Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau State Islamic command who determines the direction of policy in all matters, including political University, Indonesia affairs. It was for this purpose that two-way political communication was formed, *Corresponding author: Syahpawi email-address: [email protected] with Sufi congregations and politicians. This paper aims to reveal the relationship ​ between Sufi congregations and politicians in Pelalawan Regency, Indonesia. In order to solve this problem, an approach was made through observation and interviews with the congregation of the Tariqat and politicians. The results obtained from this study indicate that the role of the murshid towards the Sufi congregation is no longer significant as evidenced by the ineffectiveness of political communication. The factor that greatly influenced this failure was the growth of materialist and hedonistic attitudes among the Sufi congregation. INTRODUCTION that opens up great opportunities for the intensity of Sufis and politicians are two things that are always seen political communication between the Sufi and politicians paradoxically. Political life that tends to be mundane and in Pelalawan. materialistic is a fundamental reason for Sufis to stay away from it. Meanwhile, many politicians view that Sufi THEORETICAL FOUNDATION life will only curb creativity and political ambition, be In every political process, political communication exclusive and asocial. Therefore, being a Sufi, for some occupies a strategic position. In fact, political people, means apathy towards worldly things and even communication is expressed as the "lifeblood" of the tends to be secular, (Robert Rozehnal: 2007) including in political process. How could it not be, various political the political field. However, some Sufis actually used their structures including political parties obtain political congregation to mobilize the masses and achieve political information and political support through political goals. On the other hand, there are also many politicians communication. The presence of religious institutions who build political communication with Sufis, such as such as the Tariqat institution is always used as a means during a democratic party. of political communication between politicians and Sufis During its development, the Sufi community, which is (a term given to the Tariqat community) at any political organized in a tariqat, has formed emotional bonds event. Communication of politicians and Sufis increases through certain personalities. (Muzayyin: 2020) This in intensity because in the Tariqat there is "one then gave birth to the flow of tariqat such as the command" from the murshid to his congregation to Naqsabandiyah, Syathariyah, Saziliyah and Samaniyah. mobilize political support for certain politicians. This Tariqat then developed rapidly and spread widely in Rafael Raga Maran in his Introduction to Political Muslim countries. (Muhammad Djakfar: 2018) One of the Sociology states that political communication is not places where the tariqat was developed is Pelalawan something specific and separate from the social district, an old country that started as the center of the communication model, therefore the basic patterns kingdom of Pekan Tua, then continues to change and follow social communication patterns. Political finally now has the status of a district. In this place, one of communication is communication that involves political the Tariqat schools is growing and developing, namely messages and political actors, or is related to power, Naqsabandiyah. government, and government policies. Therefore political Pelalawan's specialty as a center for the development of communication is something important, without effective the Naqsabandiyah order is due to the murshid figure of political communication, political activity will lose its Tuan Guru Syekh H. Abdus Somad, the Naqsabandiyah shape. (Rafael Raga Maran: 2007) murshid disciple who received direct lineage from the Political communication is intended as a process and murshid Tuan Guru Shaykh Haji Abdul Ghani al-Khalidi activities to form political attitudes and behaviors that who brought the sysyid lineage of Syekh Sulaimanyah al- are integrated into a political system using meaningful Khalidi directly from Zuh Sulaimanyah al-Khalidi. symbols. Furthermore, what will be produced through Through this murshid the Naqsabandiyah tariqat entered political communication is the formation of an activity and developed in Riau starting from Koto Tengah, Godang that enables the realization of political ideals, including Island in the westernmost province of Riau and spread efforts to win an event such as the struggle for a seat in along the river to the East to the old town of Pelalawan. the House of Representatives. To realize such ideals, Murshid Tuan Guru Syekh H. Abdus Somad in Pelalawan according to Dan Nimmo, political communicators need has an important role in the development of the to be present, because organized group spokespersons Naqsabandiyah Order. Tariqat congregations who are and opinion leaders play an active role in political scattered throughout the sub-districts in the Pelalawan communication. Political communication, which is the 1d0is8t3rict are part of this charismatic figure. It is Sthyissteremaalittiyc ReviewslininkiPnhgaorfmpaocliytical thoughts that live in society, be it the Vol 11, Issue 12, December 2020 Political Relations And Sufi In Development Political Communication (Case Study In Pelalawan, Indonesia) thoughts of internal groups, associations, agencies or been recorded that until now (Saleh Jasit: 1999) religious sectors of government political life, is very dependent on policies are always synonymous with murshid decisions three things, namely, First, presenting the general style of as the highest authority in Sufi life, (Ahmed M Elnahas, participation. Second, the motive that underlies activities, et.al: 2016) including in making political decisions. the third is the consequence of participating in one's role When Pelalawan was still a sub-district within the in politics. (Dan Nimmo: tt) Kampar district, this area was the largest contributor to Alfian as followed by Hafied states that what is meant by the United Development Party (PPP). The vote political communication is connecting all parts of the acquisition for the party bearing the Ka'bah has started to political system, so that aspirations and interests are decline since the 2004 General Elections. This party, converted into various policies. If the communication which is synonymous with the party of the Tariqat, runs smoothly, naturally and healthily, the political continues to experience a decline in the number of votes. system will achieve a high level of responsiveness to the The last three elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019, the development of the aspirations and interests of society in United Development Party was unable to rise to become a accordance with the demands of the times. (Hafied major party to win parliamentary seats in Pelalawan Cangara: tt) Regency. This party was abandoned by its own Quoting the opinion of Karl W. Deutsch in Michael Rush FsuapcptoorrstersA, nffaemcteilnygthetNhaeqsaCboamndmiyuanhiJcaamtiaoanh. of Sufi and Philip Althoff, political communication is the Politicians transmission of politically relevant information from one part of the political system to another and between social systems and political systems as dynamic elements of a The intensity of communication of Sufi politicians in political system. (Michael Rush and Philip Althoff: 2008) Pelalawan runs very well at every election event. Political communication cannot stand alone except Politicians scramble for the opportunity to be able to through other assistance called political channels. meet the murshid thariqat and khadam tariqat in every According to Rafael, political channels consist of three surau suluk. Murshid and khadam are flooded with guests elements, namely mass media, interest groups and with various visions, missions and promises. The interpersonal contacts. Mass media such as newspapers, realization of political communication between magazines, tabloids, television and radio are the main politicians and Sufis in Pelalawan with votes is as shown channels of political communication. The format of in the table above. The United Development Party, as an political information through the mass media can be affiliated party of the Jamaah Tariqat, has lost a lot of presented in an attractive style, language and images so votes in the last three legislative elections. that it has its own appeal and can be adjusted according The Head of the Pelalawan United Development Party to the trends of the target group. Apart from the mass Branch Management,
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